Watch, etc



J. BRUN.

wMcHQneTc. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 192|.

1,418,427. PatenmJune 6,1922..

73 INI/Enron UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

JOSEPH BRUN, OF `CBATJ'X DE FOND, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGOR OF ONE-HALF TO jCHARLES F. DEPOLLIER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

To all @07mm t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JosnPI-r BRUN, a citizen of Switzerland, residing inChaux de Fond, Switzerland, have invented'certain new and usefulImprovementsin IVatches, ttc., of which thefollowing is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart hereof.

This invention has for its object to `provide improved rmeans wherebythe pivot of the balance wheel of a watch and particularly the capjewels which form the endthrust bearings of the pivot are protectedagainst injury due to shocks. It has been proposed heretofore toaccomplish this purpose by cushioning or yieldingly supporting the capjewels so that they yield slightly with sudden endwise movements of thepivot and thereby avoid being broken by a hammer like blow of the pivot.The devices heretofore produced for this purpose have not come intogeneral use, probably because they have not been well adapted for thepurpose, the spring support being cumbersome or permitting too muchmovement of the jewel or, on the other hand, not beingr sufficientlydelicate to prevent breakage of the fragile jewel. By the presentinvention there is provided for the cap. jewel an improved yieldingsupportwhich is readily applied, involves the use of no long, flatspring, does not permit undue movement of the jewel, and presses thejewel toward the `pivot with such delicacy that the jewel can yield withany endwise movement of the pivot sufficiently to take up the shock andprevent breakage. In accordance with the invention the jewel issupported by a minute star-like or spider-like Hat spring, the ends ofthe arms of which are received in an annulus or frame which is itselfsecured to the cock or other plate in which the pivot bearing ismounted. The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawing in which it is illustrated and inwhich-.-

Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of a watch` movement, showingparticularly the mounting of the balance wheel in the cock.

Figure 2 is a detail view, on a larger scale, in vertical centralsection, showing the staff or pivot, the jewels at each end, and thesupporting devices therefor.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the spring,

Specification of Letters Patent.

WATCH, Ere.

Application filed (October 6, 1921. Serial No.i5`05,764.

which supports the cap jewel at each end of the staff.

Figure is a detail view of the cap jewel setting shown in Figure 2. i

Figure 5 is a detail view4 in elevation, partly broken away, of theannulus or frame at the lower end of the staff as shown in Figure 2.

Except as hereinafter indicated the staff (L of the balance wheel b of a`watch may be mounted substantially as usual in the cock c and theopposite plate d of the movement frame. At each end the staff or pivot ais received in a `perforated jewel e, which may be secured in a ring fwhich in turn is secured in the cock c or frame plate d. At each end ofthe staff or pivot a there is also provided a cap jewel g which forms anend-thrust bearing for the staff or pivot. In the drawing this cap jewelis shown as mounted in a cap jewel setting z. provided withacentral bossh,although such setting might be dispensed with if desired. The boss 71.is received in the central opening z" of a star-like or spider-likespring retainer z', which has radiating arms 2.` The extremities of thearms z" are snapped into an undercut groove lo which is formed in thewall of an annulus or frame 7:; which, in the construction shown iny theupper part of Figure 2, is secured to the cock c by screws 7a2. In theconstruction shown in the lower part of Figure 2 the annulus or frame k3which receives the ends `of the arms of the retainer z' in its undercutgroove lc', is shown as threaded into its seat in the plate d so thatadjustment of the cap jewel toward and from the staff a can be effectedif desired, a screw It* being provided for the purpose of securing theannulus or frame 7c3 in adjusted position. The resilience of thedelicate arms i2 of the spring retainer or seat z', holds the cap jewellightly toward or in contact with the end of the staff and yieldsufficiently to cushion the jewel against sudden endwise movement ofvthe pivot and thereby prevent the breaking of the fragile jewel whichoften occurs when the jewel is supported rigidly. At the same time thejewel is so supported that it does not have undue movement. It will beunderstood that the spring retainer is seated in the annulus or frame l:or las as the case may be by slightly cupping the retainer and allowingthe ends of the arms to spring; into the undereut groove la.

Changes in details of construction and arrangement een be mede to suitdiierent conditions oi use and the invention therefore, is not limitedto the precise construetion shown and deseribed herein, exeept nepointed out in the accompanying claims.

I claim es my invention:

l. A jeweled bearing for wntelres, ete., comprising an ennulus adaptedto be secured to :L l'rznne plete7 and e jewel-retainer haring radiatingerlns engaged with the unnulus, and adapted to support e een jewel.

.A jeweled bearing' :for wetelies, ete., comprising en annulus adaptedto be secured to n freine plete end heringin its inner Well en undercutgroove :rnd L jewel# retainer having radiating` urine engaged in thegroeve of the annulus and adapted to support :L cup jewel.

23. A jeweled bearing for wutelies, ete., Comprising en nnnulus adaptedto be secured to EL freine plete, :L jewel-retainer having redating armsengaged with the ennnlus, and e jewel setting supported by the retainer.

.4. A jeweled bearing for Watches, ete, comprising an ennulus adapted tobe secured to e treme plate, :L jewel-retainer having n central apertureend radiating arms engaged with the` annulus and e jewel settingrsupported by the retainer and lia-ving n, central boss to engage theaperture of the retainer.

5. A jeweled beerinjY Yfor .vfrtehes, ete., comprising an ennulus :ldapted to be mounted adjustebly in e freine plate and :L jewel retainerhaving radiating arms engaged 'with the annulus end adapted to supportz1- Cup jewel.

This specification signed this 23d de); oi'v Sept., A. D. 1921.l

JOSEPH BRUN.

